Isolation of Tacaribe Virus, a Caribbean Arenavirus, from Host-Seeking Amblyomma americanum Ticks in Florida
Commentary: New tick-borne co-infections are regularly being discovered. Ticks contain many different bacterial infections (Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Bartonella, Borrelia species like Borrelia miyamotoi, rickettsial infections, Tularemia…), parasitic infections (like Babesia species) as well as viral infections (Powassan virus, Heartland virus, and the newly discovered Bourbon virus). This article recently published in PLoS ONE, discusses the isolation of a new virus found in lone star ticks, called Tacaribe virus. Viral RNA was discovered in up to 11.2% of ticks in Florida. Although the risk of transmission is not yet known, this article highlights the importance of testing tick reservoir hosts on a regular basis for changing patterns of infection. Testing and treating chronically ill patients for co-infections are an important part of the MSIDS model.